Power-transmitting mechanism.



S. H. RIOKARD.

POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION run MAY 1. 1009.

970,753. Patented Sept.20,1910. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N w O O o '0 O O' O O o o O O O O 0 O G Q n c Q Q o o /4%U am amm S. H.RICKARD.

POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

APPLIOADION run an 1, 1909.

970,753. Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Elvwanloz N v Q Mm/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIMEON H, RIQKARD, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

POWER-TRANSMITTING. MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 20, 1910.

Application filed May 1, 1909. Serial No. 493,274.

.appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and fi ures of referencemarked thereon, which orm a part of this specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in transmission gearing forpower driven vehicles, as automobiles, or for other available purposes.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby the power of anengine or any suitable motor or prime mover may be transmitted atvariable speeds through fric-' tion mechanism to a utilizing shaft, asthe axle of the vehicle.

- The invention consists of a pair of-companion shafts in axialalineinent with each other; a transversely arranged intervening countershaft; gearing whereby the motion of one of the companion shafts may betransmitted to the other; friction disks mounted onthe companion shaftsadjustable toward and from each other; friction Wheels, and means foradjusting each of them toward and from the center of the companionshafts; and friction disks, making a frictional contact therewith atvariable positions from the center of said disks, each revolving in oposite directions to rotate said friction w eel or wheels at speedsvarying with the position of peripheral contact with the friction disksto actuate the counter shaft at correspondinglyvarying speeds.

The invention also includes an oil-tight casing or housing for thegearing mounted on said shafts by suitable bearings, and to otherfeatures of construction as shall be more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, partly insection, showing one of the friction wheels in driving en agementwiththe disks. Fig. 2 is a partia sectional end elevation of the mechanism,showing the gear casing in vertical section. Fig. 3.1s a. similarsectional view at right angles to Fig. 2, the gear easing bein centrallydivided vertically in line with tie counter shaft. Fig. 4-is ahorizontal sectional view of the gear casing detached. Fig. 5 is a crosssectional detailed view of the gearing on the line X-X of Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings the apparatus is shown as mounted foroperation on the frame of an automobile, indicated by the numeral 1.

I 2 is a counter shaft extending longitudinally of the machine, providedwith a spline or key way 3, said shaft being mounted in suitablebearings 4, 4, at each end of the middle working space, within whichspaee thcaipparatus is mounted.

y 5 is a casing or housing for the gearing, hereafter described,cylindrical in form, having laterally extcndin bearings, with glands 7,7, providing packed bearings eml'n-acing counter shaft 2 by means ofwhich lghe casing is mounted on and supported by sfaid shaft.

, 8,"8, are end portions of the casing bolted or otherwise securedthereon as shown, having endmost bearings 9, 9, and glands 7, 7,providing stufling box bearings, embracing companion shafts 16, 16,(hereinafter described) in the same manner generally as bearings 6, 6.

Loosely mounted on counter shaft 2 within the casing 5 and bearingagainst the inner side of the bearin 's 6, 6, thereof by their hubs, areidler beve gears 10,10. Said ears inter-mesh with a driving and a drivenevel gear'll, 11, respectively, secured to the inner end of each shaft16 by any suitable means, as a key or a threaded nut 12, and a lockingcotter pin 13, whereb said wheels 11 are ermanently secured to t 1einner ends of shafts 16.

14 is a boss or lug extending upwardl from the top of easing 5 andcarrying sha t 3'[ hereinafter described.

Slidingly mounted on shafts 16, 16, are the power transmitting frictiondisks 15, 15, and engaging said shafts by spline or keyways, and havingconfronting friction faces in coni-form arrangement as shown, thepurpose of said disks being to transmit the power from both of saidshafts 16, through the friction wheel 25 to the counter shaft 2. It willbe understood that one of the companion shafts 16 is actuated by anysuitable .prime mover or engine, and that it actuates the othercompanion shaft 16 through in'erposed gearing 10, 10, and 11, 11, at thesame speed. v

For the purposeof assisting in the performanceof their functions andfacilitating adjustment of friction wheel 25, it is desirable tomaintain a normal inward pres- 'said wheel is engagedat each side bytheyoke.

The upper portions of yokes 18 are extended inwardly, havinglongitudinal slots 19 engaged by vertical pins or bolts 20 secured to across bracket or frame 39 extend ing upwardly from bearings 24, 24, ateach frock shaft 37, stepped in bearing 14, and

..ment the pressure of sprlngs 23-within the side of, the frame ormounted in any other suitable manner. Bythis means yokes 18 aremaintained in alinem'ent during their thrusting action. ating the yokes18, I provide the vertical also journaled in a centrally arrangedhearing inbracket 39. The inner terminals of okes'18 are connected withthe ends of a double arm shaped crank 36 by links 38, said crank beingsecured upon shaft '37,.

which 'inturn is actuated by any suitable lever mechanism (not shown).By this means the friction disks 15 may be thrust apart to separate themfor insertion ofthe friction ,wheel 25, and are normally pressedinwardly by springs 23. They may also be drawn together to any desiredextent to increase the frictional engagement and augcontrol of theoperator, understood. .1 e p "Each of the friction wheels 25, splined byitshub to counter shaft 2, as stated, is proas will; be readily videdwith an annular recess and reinforcing flange 26, carry'ing a frictionring27 of fiber or other suitable friction material, se-

cured by'bolt 28 or otherwise, and having an annular beveled frictionface correspond- :ing in inclination to the face of disk 15. Thesefriction wheels 25 and their rings operate to make frictional engagementwith disks 15 at any desired position radially from their center andoperate to transmit movement to the counter shaftv 2 as stated.

' Hub 29 of each wheel is annularly grooved and "provided with. two-partrings 30, and

for the purpose of.shifting-each -wheel 2 5,

For the purpose of actu terminal 32, engaging a stud 33 of ring 30,

the other end 35 of the lever being connected with suitably arrangedoperating mechanism (not shown) whereby the friction wheel may beactuated.

As'shown in the drawings, two friction .wheels 25 are provided,mountedin the same manner, whereby either one may be thrown into or outof engagement with the friction disks to the desired degree, and it willbe seen thatwith the use'of one of such fric-' .tion wheels the countershaft 2' will be rotated in one direction, and by the other, in anopposite direction. v

The operation of 'the invention is as follows: Power of the motor beingapplied to one of the companion driving shafts 16,-and transmittedtherefrom through the bevel by these two the friction disks 15 rotate inwith said friction disks 15 at any desired being manipulated to locatetheir distance apart by springs 23 and yokes 18,- driving movementisthereby transmitted to counter shaft 2 and the driving axle of thecar. To decrease the speed of the car, disks 15 are wheels 25 to beinserted inwardly toward their centers, and to increase the speed thewheel 25 is withdrawabackwardly toward the peripheries of disks 15, theperipheral speed increasing with the distance from the center, and viceyersa.

limits of'movement may besecured and the changes" in speed accomplishedwithout the usual jar or sudden impact due to ordinary toothedtransmission gearing. It will also be seen that the greatest power isaccomplished in proportion with the slowest speed, and vice versa,intermediate speeds and depending upon the position of friction wheel-25from the center of disks 15.

In order to reverse the motion of the counter shaft 2 and driving axleit is only necessary to throw the active wheel 25 into engagement withdisks 15, care being ta ken to hold disks 15 separated in order toinsert the said wheel to the desired position, and to avoid a suddenreversal of rotation or acceleration of shaft 2 in the oppositedirection.

tion and easy operation so that starting of vibration. j

' gearing to the other companion shaft 16,'a nd Any speed desiredintermediate of the powers maintaining relations to each other It willbe understood that-thednvention maybe variously chang'edor modifiedbythe'i opposite directions. Upon thrusting one or i the other frlctionwheel 25 into engagement point from the'centers thereof, said disks,

separated sufficiently to permit friction.

out of engagement and the other or inactive wheel.

The inclosing of the bevel gcaringwithin f the oil-tight casing insuresconstant lubr1ca-- the car is accomplished Without undue jar or skilledmechanic, also that the usual operating foot or hand lever or othernecessary parts may be supplied, and that the device may be applied tovarious uses to which it is applicable, or otherwise changed or varied,

-but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of thefollowing claims:

What I claim is- 1. In a power transmitting device, the combination ofoppositely arranged separate shafts, toothed gearing" connecting saidshafts, friction drivingdisks in axial aline ment and in drivingengagement with said shafts, means for moving said disks axiallytherein, an intermediate friction wheel arranged to contact with saiddisks, and means for moving said wheel toward and from the center ofsaid disks.

2. In a power transmitting device, the combination of oppositelyarranged separate shafts, toothed gearing connectin said shafts,friction driving disks in axial alinement and in driving engagement withsaid shafts, means for movin said disks axially therein, a counter shaftextending transversely between said separated shafts, a friction wheelslidingly mounted on said counter shaft in driving engagement therewith,intermediate ofsaid disks and arranged to contact therewith, and meansfor moving said wheel toward and from the center of said disks.

3. In a power transmitting device, the combinationof oppositely arrangedfriction driving disks in axial alinement, means for moving said disksaxially, a transversely arranged counter shaft, two friction wheelsslidingly mounted on said shaft in driving engagement therewith locatedintermediate of and arranged to contact with said-disks,

and means for-moving either of said wheels toward and from the center ofsaid disks.

4. In a power transmitting device, the combination of a power drivenshaft, a companion shaft in axial alinement therewith, a transversecounter shaft, bevel gears mounted' on said shafts and adapted totransmit motion from the first named shaft directly to itscompanionshaft, oppositely arranged friction driving disks slidinglymounted on the power shaftand its compzinion shaft outside of said bevelgears, means for moving said disks on said shaft, an intermediatefriction wheel slidingly mounted on said counter shaft in drivingengagement therewith arranged to contact. with said disks, and means formoving said wheel toward or from the center of said disks. 5. In a powertransmitting device, the. combination of a power driven shaft, acompauion shaft in axial alinement therewith,

a transverse counter shaft, bevel "ears mounted on said shafts andadapted to transmlt motion from the first named shaft -to its companionshaft, 0 positely arranged friction driving disks Sll( lngly mounted onfriction disks, separate shafts therefor in axial alinement with eachother, a transversely arranged counter shaft, gearing mounted on all ofsaid shafts arran ed to transmit motion from'the first named shaftdirectly to the second named shaft, friction wheels mounted on saidcounter shaft and in driving engagement therewith outwardly beyond saidgearing and arranged intermediate of-said disks, means for moving saidfriction disks in either direction, and means for-moving said frictionwheel toward or from the center of said disks.

7. In -the apparatus described, the combination with the separatedshafts and their connecting gearing and friction disks, a transverselyarranged drive shaft, and intermeshing gearing; of an inclosingseparable oil easing mounted on said shafts and inclosing the gearing.

8. In a power transmitting device, the combination of the s )eraratedrive shafts,the counter shaft, the friction disks and friction wheels,and the assembled transmitting toothed gearing, of a cylinder or casingloosely mounted upon the driving shafts and the counter shaft bylaterally arranged hearings and having detachable heads, substantiallyas set forth.

t). In a power transmitting device, the combination with the. separatedrive shafts, the counter shaft, the assembled toothed gearing, and thefriction disks and wheels and their adjustingmechanism, of an inelosingcasing for the toothed gears having laterally projecting bearings andstufiing boxes on opposite sides, and separable heads each provided withasimilar bearing, for mounting said casing upon said ha ts to provide anoil-tight receptacle for the gearing, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

snncou n. RICKARD.

\Vitnesscs:

C. C. Iain, O. A. IInxst-m.

